democrats like senator john kerry at last month's convention seized on shifts like that one to argue that romney is not ready to guide foreign policy. >> mr. romney, here's a little advice. before you debate barack obama on foreign policy, you better finish the debate with yourself. >> woodruff: today the new obama ad pointed to romney's much criticized overseas trip during th summer to argue he lacks xperiencend clari o foreign affairs. >> reckless. amateurish. that's what news media and fellow republicans called mitt romney's gaffe-filled july tour of israel and poland. >> woodruff: all of this played out as the president himself was in southern california. he declared the home of the late farm workers' union leader caesar chavez a national landmark. he also held fund-raisers in los angeles and san francisco. his campaign and the democratic national committee raised $181 million in september the most for any month this year. but money aside, it appears romney's performance in last week's highly watched debate has improved his standing in the race. a new gallup tracking poll found t